The judges' say ...

There are problems with partisan elections, according to judicial candidates.

When Texas voters go to the polls, they should keep in mind two former member of the Texas Supreme Court. First is Wallace Jefferson, a former justice who has spent his time off the bench calling for the state Legislature to replace our partisan judicial elections with a different system. These elections are risky and force excellent candidates to endure partisan tests while allowing unqualified candidates to rise to the bench.

That second judge on your mind, Don Yarbrough, is a prime example of this problem. Yarbrough was infamously elected in 1976 despite having faced a disbarment suit before the State Bar of Texas. In his corner, however, was the fact that his name was strikingly similar to a popular former senator.

Professional experience and legal aptitude are no match for a familiar name in Texas judicial elections. Just take a look at a Republican candidate for the Court of Criminal Appeals - Scott Walker - a little-known defense attorney who happened to share his name with a presidential candidate.

Neither the Democratic nor Republican Party have judicial reform at the tops of their agendas, but Jefferson isn't a lone voice in his call for reform.

The Houston Chronicle editorial board met with candidates for judge up and down the ballot, and we heard a resounding frustration with our state's partisan judicial elections. Here's some select judicial candidates in their own words:

Kevin Fulton, Republican candidate for the 11th Civil District Court: "There's two things I'd like to happen to the judiciary. One, make them nonpartisan races. Or two, you remove them from straight-ticket voting."

Mike Engelhart, Democratic candidate for the 151st Civil District Court: "I would prefer: Nonpartisan, perhaps with some component of public financing, and strict fundraising limits."

Robert K. Schaffer, Democratic candidate for the 152nd Civil District Court: "As I go through this political season for the third time, I go, 'wow, this really is not a way to apply for a job to be a judge.'"

Hazel B. Jones, Democratic candidate for the 174th Criminal District Court: "I don't think judges should have to be political. I don't like the idea that you have to campaign, that you have to ask for money. And I think it should make citizens' eyebrows rise, especially in your civil courts, when you have someone in front of your bench that has donated a lot of money to your campaign. I don't like that."

Stacey W. Bond, Republican candidate for the 176th Criminal District Court: "Electing by party is ludicrous."

Kristin M. Guiney, Republican candidate for the 179th Criminal District Court: "I think that we, as a public, are often sold a particularly poor bill of goods because the party, what comes out of either party's primary, isn't always the best-qualified."

Not every candidate called for change, and there was no consensus on an alternative. But in Harris County, where qualified legal scholars have to survive party primaries, voters have to remember dozens of judges, campaigns have to raise thousands of dollars and partisan sweeps decide the end results, it is easy to see that our current system needs improvement.